Tonight network and cable television launch the new fall season of comedies, dramas, and [faux] reality. I chose to go to the vault this evening and watch a documentary produced by “then” National Educational Television aka KQED, San Francisco’s public television station (PBS). “Take This Hammer” documents writer James Baldwin‘s visit to San Francisco. These [...]
The late great Gospel music artist Rev. James Cleveland’s “Peace Be Still” captures my thoughts surrounding recent events from Tucson to Tunisia, and also the observance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birth. This past week, poet Nikki Giovanni made a visit to DC. My first introduction to her writing (as a child) was the [...]
Very few people will say this, but this has been a big week for President Obama. The “Big Deal” tax cuts are moving forward, and today’s Senate vote (61 – 35) to repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell was yet another victory for the Obama administration. Critics of the administration’s slow peddling, DOJ filings against court [...]
When labor leader A. Philip Randolph, organized a special march in Washington, DC for “Jobs and Freedom” in 1963, I have no doubt Randolph made deliberate choices on the date — August 28– and the venue — the Lincoln Memorial — as organizers did on the program and selection of speakers. On this day in [...]
Today, I read a post on TPM suggesting that the Pigford Settlement could’ve been a second target for right-wing blogger Andrew Breitbart and his like in addition to the NAACP (for their criticism of the Tea Party leadership for tolerating racism within their ranks). …Andrew Breitbart’s timing of the release of the grossly distorted video [...]
Yesterday, the NAACP passed a resolution condemning the racist acts of Tea Party protesters. The backlash from the Tea Party has been furious. But we are not an organization that shies away from controversy. The NAACP was founded on hope, not hate — and we will not stand idly by as racists work to divide [...]
The Daily Show With Jon Stewart Mon – Thurs 11p / 10c
This music special was recorded last night (24 hours before the original date – Feb. 10 and the DC blizzard). “In Performance at the White House” will broadcast tomorrow (Thursday) February 11 on PBS stations (check local listings). It is heartening to see Dr. Bernice Johnson Reagon, a member of the original Freedom Singers and [...]
I’m behind on my President’s Weekly due to so many other things on my plate and of course the news and other distractions of the past week. I’m so focused on work (thankfully) and the “what next” of health care reform that I didn’t have time to fully address the meaning and impact of the [...]
Today is Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday. Had he lived, he would’ve been 81 years old. This was King’s last speech given in the wake of a garbage workers strike in Memphis, Tennessee in April 1968. The next day he was assassinated while standing on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel. I’m feeling this speech [...]
